Communicating Science, Health, Environment, and Risk Division

Comfort, Compliance, and Concern: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Health Research Communication • Robyn Adams, Michigan State University • There is increasing interest in the communication between researchers and research participants, particularly health communication. Research suggests that participants and researchers perform ideological roles. Yet, little research is examining these roles or their influence on their interactions. This study critically examined communication between research staff and participants within a more extensive health study. Findings revealed how researchers’ and participants’ unique and intersecting racial, social, and geographic backgrounds influence the health communication process and power dynamics.

Social media use during the flood: Formation of global warming risk perceptions during extreme weather events • Ashley Anderson, Colorado State University • This study examines how social media habits during a major flooding event in Colorado shape global warming risk perceptions. A statewide survey (n = 808) shows those who share news about the extreme weather event over social media are more likely to hold perceptions that global warming will have an impact on future local weather events. Social media information consumption about the flood boosts risk perceptions for those who hold low global warming belief certainty.

Threat Appraisals and Emotions in Crisis:  Examining Information Seeking and Sharing in Hurricane Florence • Lucinda Austin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Adam Saffer; Seoyeon Kim, University of Alabama • This study examined the relationship between the perceived threat of disasters (including disaster severity and involvement recognition), negative emotions (including anxiety, fear, sadness, and anger), and information seeking and forwarding/sharing. Through a survey of over 600 U.S. adults in a hurricane-affected region in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, findings showed that negative emotions mediated the relationship between threat appraisals and the outcomes of information seeking and sharing.

* Extended Abstract * Structures of engagement: How institutional structures at U.S. land-grant universities impact science faculty’s public scholarship • Luye Bao, Univerity of Wisconsin – Madison; MIKHAILA CALICE, University of Wisconsin-Madison Dept. of Life Sciences Communication; Kathleen Rose, Dartmouth College; Dominique Brossard • As science communication is increasingly expected of science faculty, research into factors that effectively develop these skills, like institutional structure and culture, are growing. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we analyze 2018 survey data of science faculty from U.S. land-grant universities to explore how institutional structures within these universities affect the science faculty engagement with the public. Our findings show weak influence of institutional factors and reiterate previous findings regarding the effectiveness of training and experience.

Are productive scientists more willing to participate in public engagement? • Luye Bao, Univerity of Wisconsin – Madison; MIKHAILA CALICE, University of Wisconsin-Madison Dept. of Life Sciences Communication; Dietram Scheufele, University of Wisconsin at Madison • Expanding upon public engagement research that explores the relationship between science and society, we examine what factors influence scientists’ willingness to engage with the public. Using survey data of scientists from U.S. land-grant universities, we find that academic productive scientists are more willing to participate in public scholarship. Insights from social sciences research, science communication training, institutional incentives, and self-efficacy are associated with greater willingness to participate in public scholarship and informal science education.

Discerning Discourse: The Language of Media in Reporting on Global Warming and Climate Change • Bruno F Battistoli, Fairleigh Dickinson University • This study examines media discourse in the communication of scientific information on Climate Change and Global Warming in articles on extreme weather events over a one-year period in The New York Times and The Washington Post (N = 7,252). Frequencies of primary climate terms (Global Warming, Climate Change) and secondary extreme weather event terms (tropical storm, hurricane, flood, drought, heat wave, forest fire) are reported. Qualitative content analysis revealed four thematic discourse categories.

Narratives vs. Standard of Care: Testing Messages Effectiveness for Adolescents’ Type 1 Diabetes Management • Trevor Bell, California State University, Long Beach; Seth Noar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Allison Lazard, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic illness requiring constant self-management. For adolescents, however, self-management is a daunting task. This study conducted an online experiment involving adolescents with T1D (N = 191) who were randomized to view sets of narratives or standard of care messages to evaluate the impact on message evaluation and psychosocial outcomes. Narratives were based on true stories from college students with T1D who described challenges to management and steps to overcome barriers, and standard of care messages were adapted from a high-ranking pediatric endocrinology clinic. Results showed no significant differences on any outcomes between conditions; however, mean scores were high for both, suggesting that different types of messages offer useful advice and guidance for adolescents with T1D. Discussion focuses on how narratives could work well in conjunction with standard of care messages to target different motivational and informational aspects of T1D management.

“From Cover-Up to Catastrophe:” How the Anti-Vaccine Propaganda Documentary “Vaxxed” Impacted College Students’ Perceptions About Vaccinations • Amanda Bradshaw, University of Florida; Debbie Treise, University of Florida; Alexis Bajalia, University of Florida; Easton Wollney; Summer Shelton; Kendra Auguste; Montserrat Carrerra Seoane • Through the lens of the Health Belief Model, this study sought to understand how viewing the anti-vaccine propaganda documentary Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe impacted individuals’ perceptions of the measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine and their subsequent expressed intentions to vaccinate prospective children. Qualitative pre/post video interviews were conducted along with think aloud methodology; thematic analysis revealed four themes: viewing vaccination from a Western lens; underlying distrust; skepticism or shaken beliefs, and Aristotle’s three proofs.

A Sea Change For Climate Refugees In The South Pacific: How Social Media—Not Journalism—Tells Their Real Story • Elizabeth Burch, California State Univeristy Sonoma • This study examines how Pacific Islanders use social media to fight global warming. In-depth interviews with journalists and activists in Fiji and Tuvalu explore how socially-mediated communication provides a novel forum for counter-hegemonic resistance. Social media has become the last Mayday of the so-called climate change refugee. As long as journalism misses their real story, Pacific Islanders will continue to call for help through Posts, Tweets and (Dis)likes.

* Extended Abstract * Examining the influence of gene editing knowledge on science attitudes among four major stakeholder groups • Christopher Calabrese, University of California, Davis; Jieyu Ding Featherstone; Matthew Robbins; George A. Barnett • In the context of gene editing, this study examines the role of factual knowledge on science attitudes among four major stakeholder groups: farmers, scientists, policymakers, and the general public. Findings indicate gene editing knowledge predicted science attitudes for all four groups. These results suggest the deficit model may hold for certain conditions; knowledge surrounding emerging technologies may influence general science attitudes. Understanding key factors among stakeholder groups will aid in guiding future message strategies.

The Third-Person Effect of COVID-19 Misinformation: Examining A Mediation Model for Predicating Corrective Actions • Liang Chen; Lunrui Fu • Based on the third-person effect as the theoretical framework, the current study aims to explore how the third-person perception of COVID-19 misinformation affects public intention to engage in corrective action. A total of 1,063 participants in mainland China were recruited to complete the online survey. Our findings provided partial support for the hypotheses that make up the extended third-person effect model. Results indicate that the third-person perception indirectly shaped public intentions to engage in corrective actions through attitude and perceived behavioral control, providing empirical support for a new dimension of the behavioral outcome of the third-person effect.

* Extended Abstract * Extended Abstract: The Impact of Uncertainty on Prevention Behavior Intention – Applying Theory of Planned Behavior to Uncertain Health Threat Situation • Junhan Chen, University of Maryland, College Park; Kang Namkoong, University of Maryland • Novel infectious disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic often induce feeling of uncertainty. How uncertainty affects individuals’ intention to take prevention actions is not fully understood. Through an experiment with two conditions (known vs. unknown disease), this study investigates 1) whether individuals perceive higher uncertainty in face of an unknown infectious disease, and 2) how perceived uncertainty affects attitude, self-efficacy, and perceived norms, and in turn affects intention to take prevention behaviors.

Megaphoning Effects of Skepticism, Cynicism, and Situational Motivation on an Environmental CSR Activity • Myounggi Chon; Young Kim • The purpose of this study was to examine how individuals’ skepticism and cynicism about an environmental CSR activity influence their positive and negative communication behaviors toward a corporation (megaphoning effects). The findings demonstrated the important mediating role of situational motivation in problem solving on a given environment issue between skepticism/cynicism and megaphoning effects. Using a nationwide survey of 504 participants living in the United States, this study found that skepticism and cynicism increased negative megaphoning effect and decreased positive megaphoning behaviors. Furthermore, skepticism/cynicism and megaphoning behaviors were partially mediated by situation motivation of problem solving. In particular, skeptics who were motivated to solve an environmental issue were less likely to take and forward negative information about a corporation in an environmental CSR activity. This study provides new theoretical and practical insights into CSR strategies that understand skepticism and cynicism and the communicative behaviors of publics.

* Extended Abstract * Construing Climate Change: Psychological distance, individual difference and construal level of climate change • Haoran Chu, Texas Tech University • This study examines the influences of distance cues and individual characteristics (trait empathy, time orientation, age, and gender) on climate change construe. Content analysis was utilized to investigate American adults’ mental construe of climate change after exposure to messages illustrating its impacts in close or distant locations and time. This study complements extant literature on psychological distance of climate change by pinpointing construal level’s role in shaping people’s response to climate change communication messages.

Adaptive Framing: Uncovering the Mediators and Extending the Strategy to Other Controversial Issues – Climate Change Skepticism and Vaccine Hesitancy • Renita Coleman, University of Texas Austin; Esther Thorson; Cinthia Jiminez; Kami Vinton, University of Texas Austin • This study tests a new frame that journalists can use for issues where people dispute scientific claims by instead focusing on solutions to adapt to impacts and by avoiding trigger words that cue ideological attitudes, causing people to shut down and refuse to even discuss these issues. An experiment shows this “adaptive frame,” which does not cue people’s deeply held beliefs, is significantly better at encouraging people to take action, engage with the news, and agree with the story’s perspective. These are mediated by increased perceived behavioral control, and reduced persuasion knowledge. Extensions to framing theory and practical advice for journalists are discussed.

Subverting Stereotypes: Visual Rhetoric in the #SheCanSTEM Campaign • Deborah J. Danuser, University of Pittsburgh • The Ad Council’s “She Can STEM” campaign works to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to girls by subverting the culturally-dominant stereotype that they are masculine endeavors. I examine select campaign images to see how they avoid the most common STEM visual stereotypes. However, the campaign’s strong avoidance of all STEM tropes ends up creating a campaign deficiency by stripping its role models of all visual cues that they are in STEM.

Twitter Networks during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Networking at the Time of Physical “Social Distancing” • Shugofa Dastgeer; Rashmi Thapaliya • This study examined Twitter networks during the global COVID-19 pandemic. It was a combination of social network analysis and content analysis on how people in different parts of the world engaged in health discourse on Twitter. The findings showed that people tended to talk more about politics than medical issues related to the pandemic and engaged in blaming others for the crisis. The main sources of information among users were news, self, and government officials.

A Comparison of Pro- and Anti-Vaping Groups’ Use of the Dialogic Communication Potential of Social Media • Nicholas Eng, Penn State University; Rachel Peng, Penn State University • Amidst the controversies surrounding e-cigarette use, a number of pro and anti-vaping organizations have surfaced over the years. Although these organizations have polar opposite views on vaping, they still share the same goal of gaining support from the public for their cause. This study examines how well five organizations representing two differing points of view create dialogic spaces on social media for their users. Through a content analysis, we found that both pro and anti-vaping organizations were not fully embracing recommendations on creating a dialogic space online. Pro-vaping organizations were found to be significantly more aggressive in encouraging advocacy action than anti-vaping organizations, but no significant differences were found in initiating dialogue or responding to users’ questions. Additionally, there was a significantly larger portion of comments by users that expressed distrust in health information on anti-vaping organizations’ posts than pro-vaping organizations’ posts. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Testing the Efficacy of Carbon Footprint Calculator Messaging on Climate Action: An Emotion-as-Frames Approach • Nicholas Eng, Penn State University; JIN CHEN; Jason Freeman, Pennsylvania State University; Carlina DiRusso, Pennsylvania State University • Due to the urgency of climate change, tools like carbon footprint calculators aim to encourage individuals to improve their environmental behaviors. To enhance pro-environmental information communicated through such tools, this experiment (N = 388) examined the role of individuals’ carbon footprint calculator performance and gain-loss framed efficacy messages on emotional responses, attitudes, and intentions toward climate action. Using the emotions-as-frames model and the theory of planned behavior, we found support that a low carbon footprint score evokes feelings of hope, which in turn influences attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control, and ultimately pro-environmental behavioral intentions. High carbon footprint scores evoke anger, which directly increases behavioral intentions. We did not find support for gain-loss frames shaping emotional, attitudes, or intention-related outcomes. The findings suggest that emotions, like hope and anger, are persuasive mediators for increasing intentions. However, some emotions may be more effective than others for changing attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

The Impact of Media Exposure on HPV Vaccine Risk Perception and Parental Support: The Moderating Effect of Consideration of Future Consequences • Yulei Feng, Shanghai Jiao Tong University • The development of HPV vaccine has made cervical cancer the only one cancer that can be prevented medically to some extent. Given that more and more information related to HPV vaccines has appeared on media platforms, whether media exposure will affect parents’ perception of HPV vaccine risks and further influence their decisions becomes a topic of concern. This paper proposes a consideration of future consequences moderating effect model on media exposure, risk perception and parental support based on theoretical analysis, and validates the data collected through questionnaire surveys. Studies have found that media exposure can reduce the risk perception of HPV vaccine and promote parental supportive decision. At the same time, low-risk perceptions have a positive correlation with parental decisions, and consideration of future consequences has a moderating role between media exposure and risk perception. This study provides preliminary evidence for the interrelationships between media use, personality traits, and healthy behavioral decisions.

Stay socially distant and wash your hands: determining intent for COVID-19 preventive behaviors • Jeanine Guidry, Virginia Commonwealth University; Nicole O’Donnell, Virginia Commonwealth University; Lucinda Austin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Ioana Coman, Texas Tech University • COVID-19 has spread quickly across the globe, and since there are currently no vaccines or treatments available, understanding the beliefs and perceptions about COVID-19 preventive behaviors is of utmost importance. This study surveyed 500 U.S. individuals in March 2020 and asked about their perceptions and beliefs about COVID-19 and the recommended preventive actions for this disease. Findings indicate a different in adherence intent by gender, as well as by Health Belief Model constructs.

* Extended Abstract * (Extended Abstract) Mother Earth, Memes, and Multi-Modality: Expressive Depictions of Climate Change on TikTok • Samantha Hautea, Michigan State University; Perry Parks, Michigan State University; Bruno Takahashi, Michigan State University; JING ZENG • The microvideo-sharing platform TikTok has emerged as a popular hub for self-expression, particularly for youth. This paper offers an inductive multimodal analysis of climate change-tagged TikTok videos to examine how creators are engaging with broader social issues through their content. We find TikToks are complex creative communicative expressions that display patterns of repetition and variation, message ambiguity, and depict climate change as a cultural zeitgeist.

When a Story Contradicts: Correcting Misinformation on Social Media Through Different Message Formats and Mechanisms • Yan Huang, University of Houston; Weirui Wang, Florida International University • The study tests the effects of message format (story vs. nonstory) and correction mechanisms (social vs. algorithmic correction) in correcting e-cigarette related misinformation on social media. Two experiments were conducted in which correction messages were delivered with either explicit or implicit endorsement through correction mechanisms. Findings suggest that narrative correction may have merit when it is prompted by the algorithm with explicit endorsement; nonnarrative correction is more effective when suggested by social contacts.

Transforming science information via person-to-person communication: Insights from experimental transmission chains and eye movements • Austin Hubner; Jason Coronel; Jared Ott; Matthew Sweitzer, Ohio State University; Samuel Lerner • Person-to-person communication plays an important role in explaining how people learn about science in their everyday lives. In study 1, we examine how science messages are transformed via the serial reproduction paradigm. Specifically exploring whether individuals are able to distinguish between information associated with an expert compared to a nonexpert. Study 2 uses eye monitoring to examine whether our findings from study 1 are evidence of credibility effect or a primacy effect.

Extending the mood management theory: How entertainment and informational television viewing moderates the effects of anxiety on smoking behavior • Juwon Hwang; Porismita Borah • “According to statistics from CDC, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Multiple studies have linked mental health issues such as anxiety with smoking. Moreover, there is plenty of research that has studied the impact of television genres on moods. But to the best of our knowledge no study has examined the impact of the relationship between anxiety and television viewing on risky behaviors such as smoking. We set out to examine the relationship between anxiety, television viewing, and smoking behavior. To do so, we use national U.S. survey data and concepts from mood management theory. Our main contributions are to 1) extend the mood management theory to test the impact on actual behavior 2) as well as to examine the nuances of television genres by dividing entertainment television into excitement-valanced and ambiguously-valanced entertainment programs, along with information programs. The primary findings show that individuals with anxiety are more likely to smoke and this association is significantly attenuated when they watched cartoon, sports, and health information programs but the positive association between anxiety and the extent of smoking intensified when they watched drama, music, sci-fi and TV news. Implications are discussed.

Social Media Use for Health, Cultural Values, and Demographics: A Survey of Pakistani Millennials • Muhammad Ittefaq, University of Kansas; Hyunjin Seo, University of Kansas; Mauryne Abwao, University of Knasas; Annalise Baines, University of Kansas • Over the last 10 years, an extensive body of literature has been produced to investigate the role of social media in health communication. However, little is known about the impact of cultural characteristics (e.g., masculinity, collectivism, & uncertainty avoidance) on social media use regarding health related information, especially in developing countries such as Pakistan. The present study employed Hofstede’s cultural characteristics and uses and gratification theory to examine how Pakistani millennials’ demographic characteristics and cultural values are associated with their social media use for health-related information. Our survey with 722 Pakistani adults ages between 18 to 35 living in Pakistan showed that cultural values—masculinity, collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance—are strongly related with their perceptions of social media importance, usefulness, and perceived ease of access for health-related information even when controlling for demographic characteristics. Age and gender are also significantly associated with their perspectives on social media for health. In addition, results show that communicating and sharing information is the most important motivation for them to use social media in the area of health with WhatsApp and YouTube being most preferred social media sites for health-related issues. The scholarly and practical implications of the study are discussed.

Understanding the lay audiences’ science decision-making: The role of moral foundations • Jiyoun Kim, University of Maryland; John Leach, University of Maryland; Yuan Wang, The University of Maryland; Saymin Lee • While not inherently an issue of politics, science is often judged by the public through political ideology or party. With the application of moral foundations theory, this study sought to how moral foundations can affect science decision-making. Our survey data (n = 384) reveal the functional part of the moral foundation (individualizing and binding-morality) in public judgment and decision-making about scientific issues. Theoretical implications on morality and practical applications regarding scientific acceptance are discussed.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Patient-Provider Communication and the Role of E-Health Use • Hyang-Sook Kim, Towson University; Hee Jun Kim, Towson University • Although the healthcare industry has strived to address racial/ethnic disparities in health communication, the gaps persist. Previous findings suggest that communication technology might help narrow the gaps; however, they do not how or why. According to data from a recent national survey (N = 3,504), Asians and Hispanics reported lower levels of perceived quality of communication with health care providers. While the adoption of communication technology is relatively high across minority groups, its use might play different roles (i.e., complementing or replacing traditional patient-provider communication) in different racial/ethnic populations.

An eye tracking approach to understanding misinformation and correction strategies on social media: The mediating role of attention and credibility to reduce HPV vaccine misperceptions • Sojung Kim, George Mason University; Emily Vraga; John Cook • This study uses an unobtrusive eye tracking approach to examine understudied psychological mechanisms—message attention and credibility—when people are exposed to misinformation and correction on social media.  We contrast humor versus non-humor correction strategies that point out the rhetorical flaws in misinformation regarding the HPV vaccine, which was selected for its relevance and impact on public health.  We randomly assigned participants to one of two experimental conditions: rhetorical humor correction versus rhetorical non-humor correction.  Our analyses revealed that the humor correction increased attention to the image portion of the correction tweet, and this attention indirectly lowered HPV misperceptions by reducing the credibility of the misinformation tweet.  The study also found that the non-humor correction outperformed the humor correction in reducing misperceptions via its higher credibility ratings.  Practical implications for correcting misinformation on social media are discussed.

The psychology of social media communication in influencing prevention intentions during the 2019 U.S. measles outbreak • Sojung Kim, George Mason University; Katherine Hawkins, George Mason University • This study investigates beneficial effects of social media communication on encouraging positive health prevention behaviors among U. S. parents. The ongoing 2019 U. S. measles outbreak was the topical focus due to its urgency, highly contagious nature, societal impact, and high relevance to public health. Applying the Extended Parallel Process Model as a theoretical framework, social media expression and reception effects on different prevention intentions were examined along with self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity as potential mediators. The study found that both social media expression and reception were effective in encouraging preventive hygiene intention, but only through improved self-efficacy and perceived severity. For information seeking intention, both social media expression and reception were effective directly and indirectly through increased susceptibility and severity perceptions of measles infection on their child. Practical implications and study contributions are further discussed.

* Extended Abstract * Media trust, risk, and social capital during hurricane: Media dependency approach • Hyehyun Julia Kim, University of Florida; Sylvia Chan-Olmsted, University of Florida • This paper explores media trust and perceived risk using Media Dependency Theory (MSD) to better understand the relationship between people and media during hurricanes. Relationship between social capital and demographic variables are also examined, as social capital acts as important resource in low-income communities. With data collected from 2,015 participants, study findings identify statistically significant relationships between different media outlets and media trust, as well as between demographic variables and social capital in hurricane context.

The urban-rural divide and Americans’ trust in scientists • Nicole Krause, University of Wisconsin – Madison • Poll data suggest that Americans’ trust in scientists follows an “urban-rural divide,” but it is unclear if the divide is simply a reflection of correlating factors such as religiosity and conservativism. Using attitudinal measures from the 2016 American National Election Studies combined with ruralness scores from United States Department of Agriculture, this paper finds a unique, negative effect of ruralness on warmth toward scientists, even with controls for political views, religion, conspiracism, and media attention.

* Extended Abstract * Twitter Conversation Around COVID-19 During Pre-Pandemic Period: Stigma and Information Format Cues • Sushma Kumble, Towson University; Hyang-Sook Kim, Towson University; Pratiti Diddi, Lamar University • As of March 11, 2020, WHO has declared COVID-19, which also goes by a general name Coronavirus, as a global pandemic (World Health Organization, 2020). This study explored the role of twitter in disseminating stigma messages around the disease and the country wherein the virus originated. In particular, the study explored four stigma related cues and information related cues in content. Preliminary results indicate that in the data-subset, 41.2% of the messages had stigma cues present, 45.78% of the messages had information cues. Additional analysis including social network analysis will be included in the subsequent full paper.

This Could Be Us: The Effects of Narratives and Disclosure Timings on Reducing Stigma and Implicit Bias against People Suffering from Mental Illness • Sushma Kumble, Towson University; Fuyuan Shen • One in five Americans is living with some form of diagnosable mental illness. The stigma surrounding mental illness can prevent patients from seeking necessary help. Narrative communication can engross an audience in a story, thereby reducing the tendency to argue with the message. While scholars have examined how narratives encourage empathy for and favorable attitude toward the stigmatized, little is known about building characters and timing the narrative reveal of a stigmatized condition to facilitate de-stigmatization. In order to test these effects, we conducted a between-subjects online experiment (N = 290) using narratives and disclosure timing in the context of mental illness. Results indicate that overall, narratives aided in de-stigmatization of the individual or group on an explicit level but did not significantly reduce implicit bias.

Beneath our feet: Risk, dread, and the future in coverage of enhanced geothermal energy • Catherine Lambert, Cornell University • Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) are a renewable energy technology that can generate both low-emissions power and heating. As an emerging technology that also has the potential to cause induced earthquakes, EGS represents a major public acceptance challenge, but little research has considered the risk messages emerging around EGS, including media depictions of risks, benefits, and other narratives. This study analyzes news media coverage of EGS in major world publications from 2006–2019 and finds that while news articles typically devoted limited attention to risks in favor of technological and environmental benefits, they consistently acknowledge financial and technological uncertainties involved. News coverage contained few elements of dread, but a consistent association with extractive processes such as mining and hydraulic fracturing. Rather than depictions of a remote underground, coverage framed geothermal energy as close and accessible, “right beneath our feet.” EGS was depicted as a component of three energy imaginaries: as part of a general vision of renewable energy transitions, as part of visions of world leadership in energy innovation, and as a pathway to national energy security. A lack of dread connotations and an association with minimal visual impact suggests that EGS may be less susceptible to processes of risk amplification, but an overall lack of risk information, particularly regarding induced earthquakes, indicates the need for further research on the gap between media coverage and public concerns.

The Effects of Interface Modality on Persuasive Outcomes in Food Safety Communication • Dingyu Hu; Roselyn Lee-Won, The Ohio State University; Sung Gwan Park, Seoul National University • The present research examined the effects of interface modality on persuasive outcomes in food safety communication by comparing mouse-based and touchscreen-based interaction. A laboratory experiment showed that participants who used touchscreen interface, compared to those who used mouse interface, reported greater fear after viewing food safety messages. Furthermore, fear significantly mediated the effects of interface modality on behavioral intentions. Implications for understanding the persuasive potential of interface modalities in health and risk communication are discussed.

* Extended Abstract * Polarization of Public Trust in Scientists: Insights from a Cross-Decade Comparison Using Machine Learning, 1978-2018 • Yachao Qian; Nan Li, Texas Tech University • Americans’ trust in scientists has been divided along ideological lines and polarized in the past decades. However, empirical evidences characterizing the polarization trend are mixed. This study seeks to elucidate the phenomenon with insights gained from a secondary analysis of General Social Survey data using machine learning. Results show that while conservatives initiated the polarization trend by moving asymmetrically to the extreme since 1990s, liberals played a more critical role in exacerbating it post 2008.

* Extended Abstract * Interactive Data Visualizations as Persuasive Devices for Climate Change Communication • Nan Li, Texas Tech University • Interactive data visualizations (IDVs) have been increasingly used to convey evidences regarding the risks associated with climate change. However, little is known regarding how such interfaces can help non-experts overcome their defensive responses to identity threatening messages and update opinions. Following the Elaboration Likelihood Model, this study proposed a model explaining the potential effects of IDVs on message elaboration and acceptance. Results of a pilot study were discussed to propose directions for future research.

Social media use and Chinese young people’s exercise behavior:  An extension of the theory of planned behavior • Ruoheng Liu; Nainan Wen • This study employed the theory of planned behavior to explain the relationship between use of exercise-related social media and intention and behavior of exercise among Chinese young people. Results of a survey using a stratified quota sample in a Chinese university showed that the TBP was able to explain the effect of social media use on intention to exercise and exercise behavior, while the model needed revisions to better predict the behavioral outcomes and better fit with the data. Particularly, informational and social use of exercise-related social media directly and indirectly predicted exercise behavior. The indirect paths were mediated by subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Implications of these findings were also discussed.

Information seeking and sharing during the coronavirus outbreak: An application of the Risk Information Seeking and Processing model • Zhuling Liu; Janet Yang; Jody Chin Sing Wong; Zhiying Yue; David Lee • “This study applies the risk information seeking and processing model (RISP) to examine the US public’s information seeking and information sharing during the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak. Further, we investigate how these communication behaviors affect Americans’ willingness to provide aid to China before community spread became prevalent in the US. Consistent with previous research, results show that information subjective norms are a significant predictor of both information seeking and information sharing. In addition, sympathy and information sharing are positively related to willingness to aid. An important discovery is that perceived information gathering capacity moderates the relationship between people’s attitude towards information on social media and information sharing. The RISP model posits this relationship, but it has rarely been tested in empirical studies. In terms of practical implication, this study shows that perceived credibility influences people’s motivation to share information, especially for those who have higher perceived ability to gather information on a risk topic.

Seeking information about an emerging technology: Fairness, uncertainty, systematic processing, and information engagement intentions • Hang Lu, University of Michigan; Hwanseok Song, Purdue University; Katherine McComas, Cornell University • Skeptical about emerging technologies, the public is often motivated to perform information engagement behaviors. We conducted an experiment in which participants (N=1,042) received information varying in degrees of uncertainty and fairness about an emerging technology. Subsequently, participants performed an information seeking task. We found that predictors, such as affect, norm, and information need, explained information engagement intentions, which further predicted actual seeking behaviors. Moreover, systematic processing of the initial information also predicted seeking behaviors.

Cultural Differences in Cancer Information Acquisition: Testing Perceived Cancer Risks and Cancer Fatalistic Beliefs as Predictors of Information Seeking and Avoidance in the U.S. and China • Linqi Lu, Zhejiang University; Cornell University; Jiawei Liu, Cornell University; Connie Yuan, Cornell University • This study investigates the associations between cancer beliefs/perceptions and cancer information seeking in China and the United States. Results showed that perceived cancer risks were negatively related to cancer information avoidance in the U.S. but positively related to information avoidance in China. Whereas cancer fatalistic beliefs were positively associated with cancer information seeking in the U.S., they were not associated with information seeking in China. Implications for cancer communication in different cultures are discussed.

The effects of patient-provider communication on cancer patients’ depression and anxiety: The uncertainty reduction and expectancy violations approaches • Fangcao Lu; Jeffry OKTAVIANUS; Yanqing Sun • Cancer patients’ depression and anxiety have raised considerable concern. Therefore, this research examines the associations among cancer patients’ communication with health professionals, self-efficacy, information expectancy, depression, and anxiety to help cancer patients cope with adverse mood disorders. A cross-sectional survey of 593 cancer patients was administered. Findings indicate that patients’ information expectancy moderates the indirect effect of patient-centered communication on depression and anxiety, through the mediator of self-efficacy. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

* Extended Abstract * Extended Abstract: Gender Inclusion in Science Podcasts: A Case Study Content Analysis of StarTalk Radio • Robert Lull, California State University, Fresno • Proliferation of new media has created opportunities to increase diversity and inclusion in science communication. Yet recent work suggests that gender gaps that have long characterized science media persist in new media (Amarasekara & Grant, 2019; Mitchell & McKinnon, 2019). This study analyzes the science podcast StarTalk Radio to determine 1) whether representation of female scientists has increased in the five most recent seasons and, 2) unpack how female scientists are treated on the program.

From divergence to convergence: A longitudinal network agenda-setting study of online GMO discussions in China • Chen Luo, Tsinghua University; Anfan Chen; Yi Kai Aaron Ng • Using the framework of Network Agenda Setting (NAS), we investigated how the three groups, including official institutions, influencers, and ordinary netizens, portray and discuss the genetically modified organisms (GMO) issue on Chinese social media. By examining relevant posts on Weibo platform (the Chinese equivalent of Twitter) under the guidance of NAS, the evolution of topic homogeneity on the GMO issue across a period of ten years was investigated. Results of social network analysis suggest that each group differ from the others in their ranking of different attributes surrounding the GMO issue. However, shifts in ordinary netizens’ and influencers’ attribute agendas were generally closely related across time. In particular, two major events clearly shaped agenda relationships among the three groups, with influencers strongly setting the agendas after the first event while official institutions mainly set the agendas of the other two groups after the second event. Even though the attribute agendas were markedly different among the three groups at the start, the two major events resulted in the occurrence of attribute network setting, causing the initial state of attribute agenda divergence to later convergence gradually, thus increasing the homogeneity of GMO related discussions on Chinese social media.

The Need for Social Media “Influectuals” in Science Communication • Stephanie Madden, Penn State University; Nahyun Kim, Pennsylvania State University; Jason Freeman, Pennsylvania State University; Christen Buckley • This paper explores how social media influence can potentially be harnessed for science communication issues. This study focuses on the issue of climate change and qualitatively analyzed 212 public Twitter profiles and selected tweets of climate scientists. This paper proposes a unique model of social media influencers relevant to science communication based on level of expertise and influence and introduces the concept of a social media “influectual.”

ADHD is for Kids: An Outdated Medical News Frame Supported by Medical Genre News Outlets • Daisy Milman, Texas Tech University • A content analysis of headlines, pictures and teasers was performed on a Google news query to determine the extent to which frames of ADHD patients being children continued after adults were included into the DSM-V. Results indicated that the updated frame was present, but the outdated frame held significantly greater frequency. The news genre (major, local, medical, blogs, other interests, press releases, business, or peer reviewed) with the greatest relative frequency was medical.

* Extended Abstract * Communicating Benefits and Risks about Carbon, Capture and Storage (CCS) • Rachel Esther Lim; Lucy Atkinson, The University of Texas at Austin; Won-Ki Moon, The University of Texas at Austin; Lee Ann Kahlor; Hilary Olson; Emily Moskal • The current research explores stakeholder perspectives regarding the benefits and risks of CCS technology in Southeast Texas, an area where oil-and-gas industries are key economic players. The study conducted 27 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders of a CCS project in the Gulf of Mexico. The findings show stakeholder perspectives on the benefits and risks related to CCS technology unique to this area. These findings offer important insights into best practices for communication messaging regarding CCS.

When the Public Avoids Risk Information During an Election: The Roles of Emotion and Attention Appraisal • Won-Ki Moon, The University of Texas at Austin; Lee Ann Kahlor; Hayoung Sally Lim, the University of Texas at Austin • An election cycle is full of uncertainty as voters consider their nation’s and their own future. As a result, the voter decision-making process offers an interesting context for studying risk-related information behaviors. In an election context, it is likely that individuals seek some types of risk information, but avoid other types of risk information, depending on their situation. The risk information literature to date has dedicated a great deal of attention to information-seeking behaviors, but comparably less attention to information avoidance. To shed light on information avoidance in an election context specifically, we propose and test a structural equation model based on the protective action decision model. The specific context is information behaviors during 2016 U.S. presidential election. We base our analysis on survey data from 512 U.S. adults collected one month prior to the election. The results are consistent with prior research, suggesting that issue involvement, knowledge about risks, attention appraisal, and risk perception influence risk information avoidance through the emotions felt towards the risks. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

“I just saw on Twitter that Tom Hanks has coronavirus”:  A mixed method examination of a theoretical model of celebrity illness disclosure effects • Jessica Myrick, Penn State University; Jessica Willoughby, Washington State University • On March 11, Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks announced via his social media platforms that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. An online survey (N = 682) was launched the next day to test a conceptual model of how such an announcement can shape individual COVID-19 prevention behaviors as well as information seeking and perceptions of society’s role in combating the spread of infectious disease.

Virtual Reality Intervention for Safety Education: Unveiling the immersive media effects on agricultural injury prevention behaviors • Kang Namkoong, University of Maryland; Junhan Chen, University of Maryland, College Park; John Leach, University of Maryland; Stacy Vincent; Yongwook Song; Brett Wasden • This study examines the effect of a VR intervention on behavioral intentions for safety, as identifying psychological mechanism that shows how the immersive technology works. To that end, we developed and tested a VR intervention for safe tractor operation with 291 high school students. Findings show the mediating roles of experience of immersion and perceived threat in the VR intervention effect process. Findings shed light on the potential of a VR intervention in safety education.

* Extended Abstract * Six months of media and COVID-19: A national longitudinal study tracking risk perceptions and trust in government since first U.S. death • Ronald Yaros, University of Maryland-College Park; Hoa Nguyen • Seven national online experiments, each with 750 participants, began after the first U.S. COVID-19 death on February 29th and continuing through August 2020. The Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model or RISP (Dunwoody & Griffin, 2015) measure if media use, risk perceptions, and trust in government change as news about the virus changes. Preliminary findings from the first two are summarized here but the proposed paper will include comprehensive analyses from all seven.

Vaping in Today’s World: Do Fear Appeals and Message Framing Change the way E-Cigarette Users View Their Habit? • Chris Noland, University of South Carolina • This study used an experiment to examine fear and message framing and how they interact to influence attitudes and behaviors toward e-cigarette use. Fear was found to be a mediator for the effects of the stimuli on outcome variables such as state reactance, perceived risk of e-cigarettes, and e-cigarette use cessation. Low fear levels generated higher perceived risk when state reactance is low. Gain-framed messages led to more positive attitudes when state reactance was low.

Beyond personal responsibility: Analyzing how fear appeals and attribution frames affect behavioral intentions and policy information seeking • Nicole O’Donnell, Virginia Commonwealth University; Jeanine Guidry, Virginia Commonwealth University • Who is responsible for protecting water resources? This study combines positions from the extended parallel process model and attribution theory to test how visual frames (fear/non-fear) and attribution frames (personal/government) affect intentions related to three pro-environmental behaviors. A 2×2 between-subjects controlled experiment was conducted with 504 adults from a specified U.S. watershed. Overall, findings indicate the need to move beyond emphasizing personal responsibility frames when promoting pro-environmental behaviors. Implications for environmental communication are discussed.

“That’s Some Positive Energy”: How Social Media Users Respond to #Funny Science Content • Liane O’Neill; Meaghan McKasy, Utah Valley University; Leona Yi-Fan Su; Michael Cacciatore, University of Georgia; Sara Yeo; Qian Sijia • Scientists have been adopting social media and humor to improve relationships with publics. This study investigates the effects of different types of science humor shared by a scientist on Twitter. We identified an indirect relationship between exposure to humor and leaving relevant and positive comments, mediated by mirth, as well as a direct path between the humor types and leaving relevant, positive comments. Individuals’ social media use moderated the relationship between humor exposure and mirth.

Traits, Situational Primes, and Message Frames: Regulatory Focus, Self-Construal, Authoritarian Orientation, and Influencing Climate Change Perception and Policy Support • S. Senyo Ofori-Parku, University of Oregon • Three studies were conducted to examine how self-construal and regulatory focus— as traits, situational primes, and message frames— plus authoritarian orientation influence public support for climate change. We found that: (a) independent self-view and promotion focus traits, (b) telling people to think about their aspirations (promotion-focus priming), and (c) emphasizing climate change mitigation benefits (promotion-focused framing) are linked to increased risk perception/policy support. Further moderation analyses showed that promotion-focused and interdependent self-view frames were more persuasive, especially among those who have high authoritarian inclinations.

* Extended Abstract * Risk and Efficacy Uncertainty as motivators of Information Seeking and Protective Behaviors When Facing COVID-19 • MENGXUE OU • By conducting a 2 X 2 X 2 online factorial experiment, this study seeks to investigate the role of risk, uncertainty, and efficacy in messages on COVID-19 in motivating individuals to seek information and perform protective behaviors against COVID-19. Results revealed that the risk and uncertainty of messages on  COVID-19 have much to do with individuals’ affective responses, information-seeking intentions, and protective behavioral motivations. Whilst, the presentation of response efficacy in messages on COVID-19 has little to do with individuals’ affective responses, information-seeking intentions, and protective behavioral motivations. Implications of this study will be discussed in the formal paper.

Brokerage Combating Misinformation:  Examinations of Health Discussion Networks and Attitude toward Child Vaccination • Mina Park, Washington State University; Yingchia Hsu, Washington State University; Shawn Domgaard, Washington State University; Wenqing Zhao, Washington State University; Christina Steinberg • When members in social networks are closely connected, shared misinformation within the networks can lead to risky health decision making. This study investigates how social networks providing bridging and bonding social capital affect perception of child vaccine-related misinformation. A sequential mediation model reveals that bridging social capital from network brokerage indirectly increases positive attitude about child vaccination by enabling individuals to gather diverse knowledge and ensuring response efficacy of vaccinations.

Expensive medication or misinformation: The influence of competing frames and appeals on perceptions of DTCA and support for its regulation • Ayellet Pelled, University of Wisconsin – Madison; Juwon Hwang; Hyesun Choung; Jiwon Kang; Yuanliang (leo) Shan, University of Wisconsin – Madison; Moonhoon Choi, University of Wisconsin – Madison • “The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) gradual relaxation of federal restrictions on direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) for prescription drugs over the past several decades has fueled a long-standing debate on whether these ads are more advantageous or pernicious. While proponents advocate for patient empowerment and improved health awareness, opponents caution against information distortion and the promotion of expensive or unnecessary medications. Via the theoretical lenses of gain-loss appeals and the negativity bias, this study examines the influence of mixed message appeals on perceptions of DTCA for prescription medications. The stimuli addressed potential monetary consequences–rise or decrease in medications cost–and informational consequences–consumer knowledge or misinformation. We assess whether individuals are more influenced by (a) positive, negative or mixed appeals, and by (b) monetary or informational consequences. In a second step we assess whether these concerns influence tendencies to support stricter regulation of DTCA. Our data suggest that informational consequences are more influential than the monetary consequences on perceptions of DTCA, especially concerning negative consequences such as misinformation and promotion of unnecessary medication. Paternal and maternal views were significant predictors of perceived effects such as whether DTCA informs or confuses people and whether it leads them to take better care of their personal health. However, when predicting support for regulation of DTCA it was the political predispositions that were key, and they seem to outweigh the persuasive appeals. Further findings and implications are discussed in the manuscript”

* Extended Abstract * Extended Abstract: Effects of narrative and behavioral involvement on adolescents’ attitudes toward gaming disorder • Yuchen Ren; Fuyuan Shen • This paper examines the impact of using narratives to communicate a controversial health issue, gaming disorder, on adolescents’ issue attitudes. In a between-subjects experiment, 115 adolescent participants read narrative and informational messages on gaming addiction. Results indicated that compared to the informational message, the narrative health message generated a more positive attitude toward the medical view of gaming disorder and greater attitude certainty. Transportation mediated narrative effect on attitude valence. Behavioral involvement moderated the narrative effect on attitude valence and attitude certainty.

Fear, Anticipated Regret, and Efficacy Perceptions for Active Depression Coping • Soojin Roh, Peking University HSBC Business School • This study examined how and to what extent different types of emotions – specifically fear and anticipated regret – positively and negatively contributed to individuals’ active depression coping intentions (e.g., seeking medical help and rational thinking), together with threat appraisals (i.e., susceptibility and severity assessments) and efficacy perceptions regarding depression. A two-stage structural equation modeling of a moderated mediation model with data from an online survey (N=1,027) showed that higher levels of perceived susceptibility not only directly led to inactive depression coping but also indirectly did so through the mediation of fear. On the other hand, severity and self- and response-efficacy perceptions all positively predicted active depression coping. While high levels of fear resulted in rather maladaptive responses toward depression (e.g., less intention to actively cope with depression), anticipated regret, as a positive moderator, reduced the negative impact of fear. Theoretical contribution and practical implications for strategic mental health communication message design were provided.

Risky Business? A content analysis of health risk behavior in VOD-content popular among adolescents • Anne Sadza, Radboud University; Serena Daalmans, Radboud University Nijmegen, behavioural Science Institute; Esther Rozendaal, Radboud University Nijmegen, Behavioural Science Institute; Moniek Buijzen, Radboud University Nijmegen, Behavioural Science Institute • Portrayals of risk behavior in media are prevalent and may affect adolescents’ attitudes towards these behaviors. A quantitative content analysis of trending programs (n = 529) from popular video-on-demand platforms investigated how often, by who and in what manner various risk behaviors are portrayed. Our findings indicate risk behavior of especially the substance use variety is prevalent and normalized, and this portrayal is stable across various genres of trending and popular video on demand programs.

Decisional conflict versus informational conflict: Assessing effects of exposure to different types of conflicting health information • Weijia Shi, University of Minnesota • There are two possible ways to conceptualize conflicting health messages: messages about decisional conflict and messages about informational conflict. Although prior research has documented the effects of exposure to conflicting health information (e.g., confusion, ambivalence, backlash), little is known about whether such effects vary across distinct conceptualizations. Informed by construal level theory, this study hypothesizes that decisional conflict may prime a high-level construal whereas informational conflict may prime a low-level construal; as a result, subsequent cognitive outcomes may be different. An online survey experiment was conducted with college students in the context of conflicting information about coffee consumption (N = 115). Results showed that exposure to conflicting information was linked to adverse effects but such effects did not differ significantly across conceptualizations. Theoretical implications and future directions are discussed.

Examining the effects of green cause-related marketing: The moderating role of environmental values and product type • Tsungjen Shih, National Chenghi University; Shaojung Sharon Wang, National Sun Yat-sen University • The present studies investigated the effectiveness of CRM campaigns on perceived corporate image and purchase intentions with product types and environmental values as moderators. Study 1 (N=1,175) found positive effects of CRM messages on corporate image and purchase intentions. However, the effects did not vary depending on the levels of fit between three NPOs and the telecom company. The results also indicated that CRM campaigns indirectly affected purchase intentions through corporate image, and the indirect effect was moderated by product type and environmental values. Study 2 (N=1,448) found positive effects of CRM campaigns on corporate image and purchase intentions, but the effect did not differ by the levels of fit between the causes and the computer company. Besides, corporate image positively mediated the effect of CRM campaigns on purchase intentions, and environmental values moderated this indirect relationship. These results corroborated the findings in Study 1. However, different from Study 1, product type moderated the effect of CRM campaigns on corporate image, but not the indirect relationship between CRM campaigns and purchase intentions.

Understanding the Use of Memes for Targeted HIV/STI Prevention Among Black and Hispanic Young Men Who Have Sex with Men • Jazmyne Simmons; Michelle Seelig; Victoria Orrego • Within the U.S., young Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) experience disproportionate rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Stigma, HIV prevention fatigue, and, safer sex fatigue are contributors to these disparities. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Internet memes in comparison to infographics for relaying sexual health messaging among Black, Latino, and White MSM (N = 260). Findings lend promise to memes as a complimentary tool for health information.

Persuasive effects of outcome frames in waste classification: Moderating role of consideration of future consequences • Meiqi Sun, School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing University; Xinyao Ma; Lulu Jiang; Nainan Wen • This study investigated the influence of two outcome framings—gain-loss framing and individual-societal framing—and an individual difference—consideration of future consequences (CFC)—on intentions of and public engagement with waste classification. Results of an experiment (N=215) in China demonstrated that the individual framing was more effective than societal framing in promoting intentions of waste classification, while the relative advantage of gain-loss framing was non-significant. Furthermore, the effect of individual-societal framing was moderated by CFC.

Social Media Health Campaigns for Promoting Influenza Vaccination: Examining Effectiveness of Fear Appeal Messages from Different Sources • Hongjie Tang, School of Communication and Design, Sun Yat-sen University;; Shenglan Liao; Yaying Hu, School of Communication and Design, Sun Yat-sen University; Liang Chen • The current study aims to examine the effectiveness of fear-induced health campaigns on social media in promoting influenza vaccination with the focus on information sources. A 2 × 3 × 2 (visible source × receiver source × technological source) factorial online experiment was designed to investigate the effectiveness of fear appeal messages offered by different sources on behavioral intention. A total of 534 college students were recruited to participate in the experiment. The results revealed a significant main effect for the visible source on both vaccination and information searching behavioral intention. Besides, visible source, receiver source and technological source interact to affect flu-related information searching. Theoretical implications for message design and practical implications for health campaign on social media were discussed.

* Extended Abstract * Extended Abstract: Effect of Context on Scientists’ Normative Beliefs and Willingness toward Public Engagement • Leigh Anne Tiffany, Michigan State University; Samantha Hautea, Michigan State University; John Besley, Michigan State University • Past research on the relationship between scientists’ public engagement normative beliefs and willingness to participate could prove misleading if respondents do not consider impacts of engagement activities. This study asks scientists to report normative beliefs and willingness to engage in the context of engagement impacts. Results indicate mentioning positive impacts result in more positive norms, but adding lost research time negatively affects beliefs. However, changing measurement does not affect the non-relationship between norms and engagement.

Mobilizing Users: Does Exposure to Misinformation and Its Correction Affect Users’ Responses to a Health Misinformation Post? • Melissa Tully, University of Iowa; Leticia Bode; Emily Vraga • Misinformation spreads on social media when users engage with it, but replies can also correct misinformation. Using an experiment and content analysis, we examine how exposure to misinformation and correction on Twitter about unpasteurized milk affect what participants would say in response to the misinformation. Results suggest that participants are unlikely to reply to the misinformation. However, content analysis of hypothetical replies suggests they largely do provide correct information, especially after seeing other corrections.

How daily journalists verify numbers and statistics in news stories:  An empirical study • Anthony Van Witsen, Michigan State University • Anthony Van Witsen Statistics are widely acknowledged as an essential part of journalism. Yet despite repeated investigations showing that routine news coverage involving statistics leaves much to be desired, scholarship has failed to produce an adequate theoretical understanding of how statistics are employed in journalism. Earlier research showed many journalists think anything counted or measured and expressed in numbers represents a form of unarguable truth, which may affect whether they think statistical information should be checked or verified. This study examines the verification process for statistics in detail by combining semistructured interviews with fifteen working journalists about their beliefs concerning statistics in the news with structured qualitative interviews concerning specific decisions they made about verifying, or not verifying, individual statistics in a selection of their recent stories. It sought to determine when the subjects looked for corroboration of a statistical truth claim and when and why they concluded statistics needed no checking and could be published as they stood. The results do not disconfirm earlier research about journalists beliefs concerning statistics, but show they operate in more complicated ways than previously suspected. Contrary to earlier research, journalists do not take anything expressed in numbers for granted. Consistent with that research, they rarely question the conceptual (and sometimes political) bases behind the creating of many statistics.

* Extended Abstract * SO ORDERED: A Textual Analysis of United States’ Governors’ Press Release Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic • Taylor Voges, University of Georgia; Matthew Binford, University of Georgia • The COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique environment from which each individual state, in the United States, has been forced to address their publics. In order to understand how each state has engaged with this pandemic, a textual analysis of each state’s governor’s first press release was conducted; five thematic trends were identified. Through use of risk communication, contingency theory (using external threat variables), and utilitarianism framework, the implications of these press releases are discussed.

‘An Incontestable Public Good’—Understanding the Asymmetry of NGO Vaccine Discourse throughout Latin America • Ryan Wallace, University of Texas at Austin • Exploring the increasing globalization of vaccine discourse, this study focuses on the asymmetrical flows of discourse throughout Latin America by key stakeholders in health communication—non-governmental organizations (NGOs). By analyzing the discourse of NGOs, this study seeks to understand how knowledge and power are distribution throughout Latin America and reveal the deeply-embedded histories of dependency that may continue to impact public health efforts throughout the region.

Debunking Health Misinformation on Social Media: Can Heuristic Cues Mitigate Biased Assimilation? * • Yuan Wang, The University of Maryland • This study examines whether source cues and social endorsement cues interact with individuals’ pre-existing beliefs in influencing health misinformation correction effectiveness. Using an experimental design, we find that providing corrective messages can effectively counteract the influence of misinformation, especially when the message is from an expert source and accompanied by high social endorsements. Participants evaluate misinformation and corrective messages in a biased way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs. However, their initial misperceptions can be reduced when receiving corrective messages.

* Extended Abstract * Extended Abstract: Measurement Invariance of the Sex-Related Marijuana Expectancies Scale Across Age and Gender • Jessica Willoughby, Washington State University; Stacey Hust; Jiayu Li; Leticia Couto • As recreational marijuana use continues to be legalized in the United States, there is a desire to examine messages promoting marijuana and the potential effects on adolescents and young adults. However, constructs such as sex-related marijuana expectancies, which have been found associated with intentions to use marijuana, marijuana use, and sexual behavior, have been adapted from research with limited examination of the scales themselves. This paper tests measurement invariance of a sex-related marijuana expectancies scale.

Fast and frugal: Information processing related to the coronavirus pandemic • Jody Chin Sing Wong; Janet Yang; Zhuling Liu; David Lee; Zhiying Yue • “This research focuses on three factors that influence how individuals cognitively process information related to the coronavirus outbreak. Guided by dual-process theories of information processing, we establish how the two different information processing modes (system 1: heuristic processing; system 2: systematic processing) are influenced by individuals’ responsibility attribution, discrete negative emotions, and risk perception. In an experiment, participants were exposed to a news article that either includes explicit attribution of responsibility (n = 445) or without this attribution (n = 498). Results reveal that exposure to the responsibility attribution frame led individuals to engage in more heuristic processing, but it did not influence systematic processing. Discrete negative emotions and risk perception mediated the relationship between responsibility attribution and information processing. The indirect relationships suggest a more intricate process underlying heuristic processing and systematic processing. In particular, information processing styles seem to be determined by social judgment surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

Which is Better? Theory of Reasoned Action or Theory of Planned Behavior:  A Meta-Analysis of Vaccination Research • Xizhu Xiao; Rachel Wong • Although Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) are often employed as theoretical guidance in vaccination promotion, no research to date has synthesized and compared their predictive validity. Prior studies also documented mixed findings regarding the predictive validity of a central component in TPB—perceived behavioral control (PBC). We searched five databases with relevant keyword combinations without time constraints. A total of 452 peer-reviewed studies were initially identified. After screening, 17 studies (19 independent samples) met our inclusion criteria and were included for final analysis. Results suggest that the sample-weighted average effects were moderate-to-strong. Attitude showed the strongest association with intention (r+ = 0.64), followed by norms (r+ = 0.61) and PBC (r+ = 0.42). Direct predictors of TRA and TPB explained 51.9% and 54.3% of the variance in intention respectively. Albeit small, PBC contributed significantly to the model. Moderator analyses showed that type of recipient significantly moderated attitude-intention and PBC-intention relationships; while norm-intention correlations were significantly moderated by type of norm measures. Despite prior concerns of PBC’s predictive validity, our findings demonstrate strong support for its effectiveness and the utility of TPB in vaccination research. Implications for health interventions are further discussed.

Stigma toward People Who Misuse Prescription Opioid Drugs: An Exploratory Study • Jie Xu, Villanova University; Xiaoxia Cao, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee • Based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study used a survey to examine personal, behavioral and environmental factors affecting college students’ stigmatic views toward people with prescription opioid drug (POD) misuse. Results indicated that stigmatic perception was negatively related to exposure to news coverage while positively associated with anti-opioid abuse messages. People with more stigmatic views toward POD misuse assigned more blame to individuals in such condition compared to pharmaceutical companies. POD misuse was negatively related to stigmatic, the relation was stronger among people with high self-efficacy compared to those with low self-efficacy. The results provide an interesting glimpse and add to the overall knowledge body of POD-related stigmatic views among college students. It provides initial yet compelling evidence for the diverging media influence, as well as self-efficacy and POD misuse behavior on stigma. The findings also shed lights that may help policymakers and the general public to counter the opioid crisis more effectively.

Effects of Information Veracity and Message Frames on Information Dissemination: Examining Zika Epidemic on Twitter • Qian Xu, Elon University; Shi Chen, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Lida Safarnejad, University of North Carolina, Charlotte • This research examines how information veracity interacted with four message frames (legislation of funding, election, women’s human rights, and sports) to influence the dissemination of tweets in the 2016 Zika outbreak. We discovered that the retweet networks of misinformation had larger network diameter and higher structural virality than those of true information about Zika. Four message frames differed in their respective capacities of moderating the impact of information veracity on the dissemination of Zika tweets.

Are You Passing Along Something True or False? Dissemination of GMO Messages on Social Media • Qian Xu, Elon University; Yunya Song, Hong Kong Baptist University; Nan Yu, University of Central Florida; Shi Chen, University of North Carolina, Charlotte • Using network analysis, this study investigates how information veracity and account verification influence the dissemination of information about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on social media. The dissemination networks of misinformation about GMOs were found to have higher structural stability than those of true information, as shown by denser network structure with fewer distinct subgroups. The unverified accounts significantly boosted misinformation dissemination by increasing network density. The unverified accounts received more reposts than the verified accounts.

Using Computational Methods to Examine the Online Media Agenda, Public Agenda, and Framing Related to Climate Change • Zhan Xu, Northern Arizona University; David Atkin; Lauren Ellis • Guided by framing theory, the present study utilizes a quantitative content analysis—including Latent Dirichlet Allocation –applied to online climate change articles posted from 2007-2019. Engagement with media agendas, public agendas and framing related to climate were examined in the online context. Findings suggest that advocacy articles were more engaging than denial articles. Exposure to climate change frames is related to social media engagement. Climate change frames differed in their ability to engage social media users.

If Others Care, I Will Fight Climate Change: Reexamine Influence of Presumed Media Influence in the Context of Collective Actions • Xiaodong Yang, Shandong University; Yijing Li; Zhuoran Li; Ran Wei • To address the flaws of previous studies in examining pro-environmental behaviors, this study incorporates the theory of collective action to reexamine the role of media in promoting pro-environmental behavioral intention. Based on the collective interest model, which emphasizes that individuals’ decision of participating in collective action depends on their perception of others’ performance and individuals’ concern about free-rider would hold them back from taking action, this study employed the influence of presumed media influence (IPI) model to seek an understanding of how perceived effects of environmental messages would affect an individual’s own reasoning for action. Data were collected from a nationally door-to-door survey in Singapore (N= 705). Findings show that people estimate others’ attention to media messages about climate change based on the amount of attention that they pay to these messages. The perception of others’ media attention leads them to develop presumed media influence on others. Further, findings show that the more people believe that others are influenced by media messages, the more likely they would engage in pro-environmental behavior. Attitude, social norms, and collective efficacy enhanced this relationship. Our findings extended the application of the IPI model in the context of environmental communication.

Understanding Science Bloggers’ View and Approach to Strategic Communication:  A Qualitative Interview Study • Shupei Yuan, Northern Illinois University; John Besley, Michigan State University • The current study used qualitative interviews to explore how science bloggers view and practice strategic science communication. Interviews with 20 science bloggers who cover various scientific topics suggest that many bloggers intend to achieve objectives beyond informing the public. Most science bloggers actively apply writing techniques in their articles, which vary in how explicitly connected they are with the objectives bloggers say they want to achieve. The findings demonstrate the value of science blogs from bloggers’ collective impact on science communication and also provided a window to the future development of online science communication.

When Virus Goes Political: A Computerized Text Analysis of Crisis Attribution on Covid-19 Pandemic • Weilu Zhang, School of Journalism, University of Missouri; Lingshu Hu; Jihye Park • As the Covid-19 pandemic crisis evolves, the U.S. is facing an unprecedented public health crisis. It is crucial for us to learn how the general public makes sense of the crisis to carry out appropriate crisis responses in promoting positive coping strategies among them. The current study finds that the public’s attribution and their attitude to the government during the crisis will be influenced by their political identity and the threatening level to their health.

<2020 Abstracts

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